Death of a Dapper Snowman by Angela Pepper Read Free Book Online Page B

Had I offended him during my brief visit?
    The girl he’d crossed the street with, a blonde in her early twenties, looked right through me, like I was a ghost. She let go of Mr. Jenkins’ arm and dug around in her purse for a moment. Then she leaned in toward the glass and applied a coat of red lipstick to her full lips.
    She was using the window as a mirror because, to her, it was a mirror.
    I let out a giddy laugh as soon as it came to me. I’d never noticed this window, because it didn’t look like a window on the other side. It was a mirror, and a famous one, at that. Ruby’s mirror on the corner was one of the cutest things in Misty Falls, and frequently featured on our local postcards.
    While I was looking out at Mr. Jenkins and the girl, they were looking at themselves. I knew the view well. The mirror was surrounded by a decorative tile mosaic sprinkled with letters that spelled out positive words and phrases, like JOY and LOVE and YOU LOOK SUPER TODAY!
    Mr. Jenkins glanced over to the girl and said something I couldn’t hear through the glass. He didn’t look happy, or sad, but she looked miserable, with red-rimmed eyes.
    She turned and spat some words at him—I saw actual beads of spit fly out of her mouth—and stepped closer to the mirror, lipstick in hand.
    I watched in amazement as the blonde finished fixing her makeup, her body language cold toward Mr. Jenkins.
    “Something’s going on there,” said Ruby, startling me at her quiet arrival. She set a tray of tea and miniature cupcakes on the table.
    I whispered, “Can they hear us? Or see us?”
    “Triple paned,” she said. “And nobody can see in. You could sit here naked if you wanted, though I wouldn’t recommend it.” She picked up a mini cupcake and popped it into her mouth whole. “The crumbs would go everywhere unmentionable.”
    Mr. Jenkins and the blonde walked away, heading in separate directions.
    “I wonder what that’s all about,” Ruby said. “I’d bet my beloved turtle on a scandal.”
    She stroked a diamond-encrusted gold chunk of jewelry hanging from her necklace. Something struck me as being odd. I didn’t find it strange that an older man such as Mr. Jenkins might be having an affair with an attractive younger woman, because that was the norm back in my high-powered business world. I found it odd that Ruby was talking about a beloved turtle while stroking a panther-shaped charm.
    She settled into the seat across the small table from me and poured us both tea.
    “I’m sorry, Ruby, but I have to ask. You mentioned a turtle, but that spectacular piece you’re wearing is something else.”
    She smiled and patted her jewelry. “This is my kitty. My turtle’s too precious to wear for everyday stuff, silly.” She gestured for me to drink the tea. “It’s creamy Earl Grey, love. Drink up.”
    I took a sip and enjoyed the view out of the secret window.
    “Isn’t it marvelous?” Ruby cooed. “I could just watch all day. I love it when people come out of the bagel shop and stop right here, like clockwork, to check their teeth for poppy seeds.”
    “You love that?” I chuckled at this and sipped my tea politely.
    “I look away, of course. If people are using the mirror, I give them their privacy. It just makes me laugh how predictable people are. Watch.”
    She beckoned for me to lean forward, and pointed to a man exiting the bagel shop next door. It was Officer Tony Milano, in uniform. Did Tony like poppy seed bagels? That wasn’t a bit of trivia I knew about the man. He liked food, in general, and lots of it. My father used to tease him about having a hollow leg, because he loved to eat and never gained weight.
    Tony walked toward us, turned to face me, and smiled. I smiled and waved back as a reflex, even though he couldn’t see me. A second later, he leaned in and grinned wider, checking his teeth.
    Ruby said, “See what I mean?”
    “Tony likes poppy seeds.” I laughed and covered my eyes with my hand. When